Pivoted hanger clamp



Oct. 22, 1957 c. E. ANDERSON PIVOTED HANGER CLAMP Filed Jan. 8, 1954 lnvenfor Carl Eric Anderson 24: I). i! M Afforney United States Patent PIVOTED ILSNGER CLAMP Carl Eric Anderson, Spring Lake, Mich.

Application January 8, 1954, Serial No. 402,978

3 Claims. (Cl. 24863) This invention relates to the construction of hanger clamps used for the suspension of electric wires and other flexible lines. The frequent need for the rearrangement of machinery and other equipment on the floor of a factory complicates the distribution of power. The provision of enough permanent power outlets distributed around the floor to provide energy for the equipment no matter where it is to be positioned is a very expensive system. It is much less expensive to use a relatively few primary power outlets, and to connect them to the machines with temporary wires suspended from the superstructure with hanger clamps of the type described here- Essentially these devices include a clamping unit and some type of a hanger from which the clamp is suspended from the building structure. The installation of these units ordinarily involves applying enough tension to the wires to reduce the amount of sag to the point where the wire does not interfere with the working area around the machines.

The process of clamping a wire in position with the requisite amount of tension is a rather troublesome operation unless the clamp is properly designed with consideration given to the installation procedure. Since tension on the wire should be maintained while the clamp is being tightened, it follows that the clamp must be capable of being manipulated easily with one hand. Ordinarily, the wires are installed while the workman is standing on a ladder, and the job should most certainly be capable of being performed by one man.

The matter of the cost of the unit is also a very important consideration in the design of these devices, since the clamps should be used in considerable number in any sizable factory area to support the network of wires without excessive tension and without interfering with the machines and working areas. This invention provides a construction for a hanger clamp which is based upon components formed of sheet metal, and approaches maximum simplicity of operation. Basically, the unit includes a line-receiving member (preferably a trough) over which the Wire is laid. Prior to tightening of the clamp, the wire is preferably looped once around so that it passes twice through the line-receiving member. A laterally-extending arm is connected to this line-receiving member, and another arm is pivoted thereto. A clamping member is connected to this latter arm, and is positioned opposite the line-receiving member so that clamping action is generated as the arms are rotated with respect to each other. A bolt is disposed to apply force between the two arms to generate the clamping action. One of the arms is preferably U-shaped in crosssection, with the other arm received therein. One end of the bolt is connected to the inner arm by a pivot pin which is axially retained in position by the presence of the walls of the outer arm.

The several features of the present invention will be analysed in detail through a discussion of the particular 'In the drawing; H I 5 ice J V 2 embodiments illustrated Figured presents a side elevation of a hanger'clamp constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is 'a 'top view of the device illustrated in'Fig-i ure 1. a a r e Figure 3 is a section taken on the plane 3 3 of Figure 2. 1

Figure '4 is a view showing the installation of a hanger clamp and the' support of a wire therewith. 1 i Referring'to the drawing, a trough 10 forms a linereceiving member, and is preferably formed of sheet metal. A laterally-extending arm 11 is rigidly connected thereto, preferably by welding as indicated at 12. The

arm 11 is provided with the arcuate section 13 which co'n forms to the cross-sectional shape of the trough 10, with the portion 14 being headed for increased rigidity. The laterally extending portion of the arm 11 is formed with a U-shaped cross-section including the web 15 and the spaced side walls 16 and 17. A pin 18 is mounted at theout'er extremity of the arm 11, and provides a pivot for the inner arm 19 received between the walls 16 and 17. The clamping member 20 is firmly secured to the arm Y19, and is" disposed opposite the trough 10; Preferably, the 'arm 19 and the clamping member20 are integrally formed of sheet metal folded along the edge 21. A hole 22- provides a meansfor attaching the hanger} 23, which supports the clamp from anoverhead girderi 24 as shown in"Figure'4.

Clamping action suflicient to securely retain the wire in the position indicated in Figure 4 is generated by the bolt 25. This bolt passes through an opening 26 in the web of the arm 11, and is connected to the arm 19 by a pin 27. The layers of metal forming the double thickness resulting from the fold at the edge 21 are separated at 28 to admit the end 29 of the bolt 25 to receive the pin 27, which is axially retained in position by the presence of the spaced walls 16 and 17 of the arm 11. The pin 27 traverses suitable apertures in the opposite sides which form the separated portion 28, in the illustrated modification. The assembly of the device in the first instance takes place with the arm 19 rotated counterclockwise with respect to the arm 11 to a point where the pin 27 emerges from between the walls 16 and 17.

The installation of the clamping unit may be as indicated in Figure 4. A hole is machined. at a convenient location in the lower flange of the girder 24 to receive the hooked end of the rod-shaped hanger 23. A similar hook at the lower end engages the hole 22. Preferably, the wire 30 is looped so that it passes twice through the trough 10, and thereby increases the ability of the device to generate adequate clamping action. After the wire 30 has been placed in position, the wing nut 31 is tightened to generate the necessary clamping action between the member 20 and the trough 10. It is also preferable that one side of the trough 10 be extended as indicated at 32 and 33 to provide guides for the arm 19 to maintain the alignment of this member and to provide a stop to aid in the insertion of the wire when the clamp is in the open position.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention dsclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

-I claim:

1. A hanger clamp for the suspension of flexible lines, said clamp comprising: means forming a line-receiving trough; a first laterally extending arm, said first arm hav- Patented or.'22,'1 s7 in the? accompanyingidrawing.

ing a U-shaped cross-section and also having an arcuate portion formed to receive said trough and secured thereto, and having an opening in the web of said U-shaped cross-section; a second arm, said second arm being formed of a-double thickness of material and pivotally connected to said first arm, and received within said,;U-'shaped cross-section, said second arm having aligned apertures opposite said opening; said double thickness of material being separated over'an area'surrounding said apertures and extending to at least the side of said second, arm adjacent said web; a clamping member formed of oppositely-turned portions of said double thickness of material and disposed opposite said trough; pin means engaging said apertures andnormally axially confined be tween the sides of said ,U-shaped cross-section; bolt means having an end thereof disposed between said separated thicknesses of material andconnected to said pin means, and extending through said opening; and nut means engaging said bolt means and disposed outside said first arm. r l

2. A hanger clamp for the suspension of flexible lines, said clamp comprising: means forming a line-receiving trough; a first laterally extending arm, said first arm having a U-shaped cross-section fixed With respect to said trough, and having an opening in the web of said U- shaped cross-section; a second arm, said second arm being pivotally connected to said first arm and received within said U-shaped cross-section, said second arm having an aperture opposite said opening; a clamping member secured to said second arm and disposed opposite and normally above said trough; pin means extending substantially parallel to said web and engaging said aperture and normally axially confined between the sides of said said line-receiving member, and having an opening in the web of said U-shaped cross-section; a second arm, said second arm being pivotally connected to said first arm and received within said U-shaped cross-section and having hanger-attaching means thereon, said second arm having an aperture opposite said opening; a clamping member secured to said second arm and disposed opposite and normally above said line-receiving member; pin means extending substantially parallel to said web and engaging said aperture and normally axially confined between the sides of said U-shaped cross-section; bolt means connected to said pin means and extending through said opening; and nut means engaging said bolt means and disposed outside said first arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 531,700 Rowland Jan. 1, 1895 702,334 Schulte et al June 10, 1902 794,812 Pahl et al. July 18, 1905 1,305,713 Goddard June 3, 1919 2,560,884 Nagourney July 17, 1951 2,705,354 Parsons Apr. 5, 1955 

